Cornyn: Expanding gun use by prosecutors and judges will ensure their safety

John Cornyn voted today to prevent Senate consideration of gun legislation, but that hasn’t stopped the Texas senator from pushing for a separate bill to increase gun use, aiming to protect prosecutors and judges.

The bill would allow prosecutors and judges to carry firearms at their offices and office parking garages. Prosecutors and judges can carry to courthouses in most states, but are barred from doing so in their offices on federal property. The bill would also allow local governments the latitude to pay for security detail.

“Public safety officers like prosecutors put their lives on the line every day, and they deserve the peace of mind to go about their work without fearing for their safety,” Cornyn said in a statement. “This legislation would provide prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officials more flexibility in how they choose to protect themselves and their families, as well as create stronger offenses for those who target our public officials.”

Cornyn’s bill also creates a new federal statute for killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill prosecutors and judges.

The bill comes in the wake of the murder of Kaufman county district attorney and his wife in their home. In January the assistant district attorney in Kaufman was shot in a parking lot on his way to the courthouse office.

Earlier this month, Houston federal prosecutor Jay Hileman withdrew from a case, with many speculating he feared for his safety.